[blindlaw] Request for laptop during essay section denied

[McCarthy, Jim]

To be fair about the MBE part of things, I actually think that
California is denying your request because they cannot get an electronic
version from the multistate Bar Examination body.  It would seem that an
accessible MBE is possible, but I don't think they have done anything to
make it a reality.  It seems, therefore, that protesting the state's
board of examiners decision, which I think is the result of their
inability to get from the MBE folks what you ask for, will not get you
very far.  In recent years I have thought about this some because as Rod
states, it seems that most states, apparently but for Virginia, allow
use of a computer for the essay part of their exams these days.  The
legal profession certainly is slow to change.
Best
Jim McCarthy   

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Ben Karpilow
Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2009 1:09 AM
To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Request for laptop during essay section denied

Angie, I'm taking the July California bar  and have been granted use of
my laptop for the essay portion of the exam. California requires  bar
laptoppers  to install a piece of software called exam soft, which
sounds similar to Exam4.  However, apparently exam soft is not
compatible with jaws,meaning I must wipe my computer clean of all
superfluous software and text files  before taking the exam.  Perhaps,
as you inquired, someone on this list knows whether Exam4 is compatible
with a screen reader. Or, perhaps someone at the VA state bar office can
tell you that.  That the NCBE habitually denies blind test takers use of
their technology is an absolute joke. I was denied an electronic version
of the MBE and am currently in the appeals process.  Good luck.

Ben


----- Original Message -----
From: "Angie Matney" <angie.matney at gmail.com>
To: "'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 4:53 PM
Subject: [blindlaw] Request for laptop during essay section denied


> Hello,
>
>
>
> I asked for and was granted a Braille MBE and a Braille version of the

> ssay
> questions. My request to write my answers to the essays was denied. I
am
> supposed to dictate them to a court reporter. The documentation I
received
> from the VA bar examiners is unclear as to whether or not I will first
be
> able to prepare my answers in Braille and then dictate them (it 
> specifically
> says I can do this for the MBE, but not the essays), or whether I have
to
> simply dictate my answers. I have serious concerns about my ability to
> perform effectively on the exam if it is the latter. I have never
taken an
> essay test via dictation--I mentioned this in my accommodations
request. I
> explained why the process was different for the MBE and the essay
portion 
> of
> the bar, but apparently my explanation was not sufficient, not
understood,
> or not accepted.
>
>
>
> Has anyone been granted the option to use a laptop during the 
> state-specific
> portion of the Bar exam? It is my understanding that this is fairly 
> common.
>
>
>
> Virginia does have a program whereby any person taking the exam can 
> register
> to take it via laptop, but I have concerns about the accessibility of
the
> software they use, which disables all but some basic word-processing
> functions of the computer. The software is called Exam4, and the maker
is
> Extegrity. Has anyone had experience with this software and a screen 
> reader?
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> Angie
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>


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